Heavy flu season helps Reckitt beat profit forecasts

LONDON – An unusually severe cold and flu season in the United States helped drive full-year profits higher at Britain's Reckitt Benckiser , maker of Strepsils throat lozenges and Mucinex decongestant.

The intensity of the North American flu season pushed up demand across the board for hospitals, pharmacies and the makers of cold remedies.

"The cold and flu season was a good one, the buying was very good and clearly there has been some benefit from this," Chief Executive Rakesh Kapoor told journalists following the company's results on Wednesday.

Reckitt's sales in Europe and North America, where many firms have struggled with sluggish consumer demand, grew 3 percent in the fourth quarter, traditionally the peak cold and flu season. Full-year earnings per share were up 7 percent and ahead of forecasts.

Kapoor said the company would target revenue growth of between 5 and 6 percent for 2013, including acquisitions and disposals announced to date, with margins to be maintained at 2012 levels.

This compares with growth, excluding non-core pharmaceuticals, of 5 percent over the past year, which accelerated to 6 percent in the final quarter.

"With the positive impact of the strong flu season flowing into Q1 2013, both in the Health and Hygiene categories, we believe 2013 has started well for Reckitt," analysts at Shore Capital said.

"We expect the market to respond positively to today's results, whilst recognizing they may be underwhelmed by management's full year targets, which may ultimately prove cautious."

Shares in Reckitt opened up 3 percent at a record high, before retreating to trade up 1.3 percent at 4,423 pence by 6:52 a.m EST. The shares have had a strong run, outperforming the market and rising around 23 percent in 2012.

EMERGING MARKET SHIFT

The company, which also makes household cleaning products such as Cillit Bang, has been shifting its focus to the fast-growing health and hygiene sector, with brands such as Durex condoms, Gaviscon indigestion treatment and Dettol disinfectant. It is also targeting emerging markets.

Reckitt said it wanted half of its net revenue in its core business to come from emerging markets by 2015, a year earlier than previously planned, while its health and hygiene products would account for 72 percent of net revenue.

The group has already made a string of acquisitions to expand in these areas.

At the end of last year, Reckitt saw off competition from Germany's Bayer
to secure U.S. vitamin maker Schiff Nutrition Inc for $1.4 billion, gaining access to the vitamin and supplement market for the first time.

On Tuesday, it announced it a $482 million licensing deal with Bristol Myers-Squibb for Latin American health brands such as cough reliever Naldecon and painkiller Tempra, with an option to buy after three years.